America’s Strategy for Building the Microelectronics Workforce
NNME is building a coordinated national workforce ecosystem designed to strengthen semiconductor talent pipelines, align education with industry demand, and support long-term U.S. competitiveness.
The National Challenge
Semiconductor Growth Requires Workforce Scale
According to our recent study with McKinsey, by 2030 the United States is projected to face a semiconductor workforce shortfall of approximately 127,000 to 157,000 workers.
Demand spans:
- Technicians
- Engineers
- Manufacturing specialists
- Equipment and maintenance roles
- Advanced packaging and assembly occupations
The workforce challenge is too large and too interconnected for fragmented solutions. NNME was created to help align workforce development efforts nationally while enabling regional execution.
The NNME Strategy
Building Durable Workforce Infrastructure
NNME is designed to strengthen how workforce systems operate in support of the semiconductor industry.
The strategy focuses on:
- Aligning education with employer demand
- Strengthening regional workforce ecosystems
- Expanding workforce participation
- Accelerating workforce readiness
- Supporting long-term manufacturing growth
- Creating shared national infrastructure and coordination
Supported by the National Science Foundation and operated by the SEMI Foundation, NNME serves as a national coordination framework for semiconductor workforce development.
Strategic Priorities
Five Areas of Focus
Workforce Infrastructure
Build scalable systems, partnerships, and coordination models that strengthen workforce development nationally.
Industry Alignment
Ensure workforce pathways remain connected to evolving employer demand and technological change.
Regional Ecosystem Development
Strengthen collaboration across education, workforce, industry, and community partners within each region.
Workforce Readiness
Expand hands-on learning, work-based training, credentials, and career-connected education pathways.
Access and Opportunity
Increase awareness of semiconductor careers and expand participation across communities and regions throughout the United States.
National Platforms
Shared Infrastructure Supporting the Ecosystem
SemiSphere™
NNME’s national learning and curriculum platform supporting educators and institutions with industry-aligned instructional resources and workforce-informed pathways.
ChipPath™
NNME’s AI-enabled career platform connecting individuals to semiconductor careers, workforce opportunities, and pathway navigation tools.
Strategic Outcomes
What Success Looks Like
NNME is designed to support measurable long-term impact across the semiconductor workforce ecosystem.
Key outcomes include:
- Expanded participation in semiconductor careers
- Increased workforce training capacity
- Stronger alignment between education and industry
- Faster pathways into employment
- Greater regional workforce coordination
- Improved workforce system responsiveness
- Stronger long-term U.S. competitiveness
Contact NNME
Learn More About the NNME Strategy
Contact the NNME team to learn more about workforce initiatives, Regional Nodes, partnership opportunities, and our national strategy.